Cappry Rovers need extra-time to see off Fintown Harps

By Patrick Toland

Cappry Rovers earned the local bragging rights in their FAI Junior Cup derby clash away to neighbours Fintown Harps in a seven-goal extra-time thriller on a bitterly cold Saturday afternoon.

Matthew McGeehan scored the first goal in extra time, and a few minutes later, his teammate Jack Byrne put the icing on the cake.

However, the home side made it a nervy last few minutes as substitute Adam Killen converted from a great pass into his run from Jamie McMonagle Quinn.

Harps started brightly as after penning Cappry into their own half, as Eunan Doherty’s shot outside the box rattled the crossbar.

The away side then created their first chances of the game as a slick pass from Jack Byrne opened up space in the box for Matthew McGeehan but his shot hit the left post. Shortly after that McGeehan struck the right post.

Fintown Harps then claimed for a penalty as Doherty fell after pressure from Shaun Ryan, but it was waved away by referee Mick Langan.

The game was19 minutes old when it had its first goal. Cappry Rovers’ Byrne sent in an excellent ball from the wing to McGeehan who danced past his defender John Molloy and keeper John Paul Breslin to make it 1-0 to the away side.

The home side pushed for an instant equaliser as Doherty was unlucky to see his shot hit the side netting.

However, Fintown Harps did not have to wait long to get back on level terms. A ball into the box was headed by Eunan Doherty neatly into the path of Ultan Doherty who slotted it past the keeper.

17 minutes later the home team’s striker had a brace after a nice counterattack by Fintown Harps.

Cappry Rovers responded to being a goal down by putting pressure on Fintown Harps with two successive corners in the dying minutes of the first half. The first was cleared by the home team but for the second, a mix up in the home team’s defence meant Byrne was free to make it 2-2 after a nice ball in from Luke McGlynn.

Cappry Rovers started the second half the brighter of the two teams. Michael Carroll found space in Fintown Harps’ defence to put the ball across the face of the goal, but no-one was there to convert.

The game then became an even affair with both sides having chances to take the lead. Cappry Rovers thought they won it in last minute when McGeehan scored but he was offside.

At the start of the first half of extra time, there was no offside for McGeehan as he smartly finished from a cleared ball from a corner that went his way to give his team the lead.

Three minutes later, Cappry Rovers were two goals to the good, as unfortunately for Fintown Harps’ keeper Breslin, his save from Byrne’s shot, rebounded back to the striker who made no mistake the second time.

Fintown Harps to their credit still battled on and made the game nervy for their visitors when Adam Killeen slotted it past Eoin Gallen after an excellent through ball by Jamie McMonagle Quinn with only five minutes left.

However, Cappry Rovers hung on to get bragging rights over their neighbours.

Finntown Harps AFC: John Paul Breslin; Michael Doherty, Sean Doherty, John Molloy; Keelan McGill, Kealan McMonigle, Aaron McGlynn; Eunan Doherty, Dermot Gallagher, Jamie McMonagle Quinn, Ultan Doherty

Cappry Rovers AFC: Eoin Gallen, Callum Long, Shaun Ryan, Michael Carroll, Conor Doherty, Shaun Ward, Jack Byrne, Luke McGlynn, Matthew McGeehan, Kevin McCormack, Seaghan McCormack,

Subs for Fintown Harps: Seamus Boyle for Ultan Doherty, Adam Killeen for Michael Doherty, Odhran Bonner for Sean Doherty,

Subs for Cappry Rovers: Brendan McLaughlin for Michael Carroll, Matthew Dowds for Shaun Ward, Joel McGlynn for Seaghan McCormack, Shay McNulty for Jack Byrne

Referee: Mick Langan